This horrible. A rotten way to treat people.

I'm in health policy. Suggestions I have is to check with some non-profits right away--charity orgs--the United Way for sure.

Another is to look into if a health system has a financial assistance program. I wasn't aware of them, but for Day Treatment I couldn't afford it and it turns out the hospital company has a program for those with very low income--but higher than you'd think. You can already have insurance and qualify if you meet the income/assets requirement. I qualified and I have Medicare. They'll pay the entire costs that I'd have to pay out-of-pocket for virtually everything--not glasses, hearing aids, no Rx, whether I’d need to pay for all of it, or just the co-pay parts not paid for by regular insurance.

It lasts for 1 year and I can get treatments at its hospitals and clinics around the state--it's a very large system. You can also get it renewed upon review of your then situation. I have access to types of care and it won’t cost me a thing for the next years.

Sounds too good to be true—and I support single public universal system—but I guess there are at least some assistance programs offered by private system. If my hospital system does it, I imagine there must be a few others out there.

Look into it, though it might be hard to figure out where to start. Some non-profits would be aware of it, and maybe some people with state social services, as well.